Jump Rope for Heart

Jump Rope for Heart was a success at Mitchell.  The classes completed several stations that incorporated jumping.  Special thanks to the Mitchell PTA who provided a bounce house for the classes to use.  The event has special meaning to Mitchell because one of our very own students was born with a congenital heart defect.  Her name is Kyleigh Forster and she is fourth grader.  Her mom shares Kyleigh's story.

Kyleigh was born with a congenital heart defect called Tricuspid Atresia, Hypoplatc Right Heart Syndrome.  Essentially Kyleigh was born with half a heart.  In order to survive Kyleigh needed to undergo a series of 3 open heart surgeries.  Kyleigh's first open heart surgery was performed at only 9 weeks old and she weighed just 4 pounds 9 ounces.  Kyleigh nearly lost her life during that surgery but being the fighter she is, she battled through it.  She then has her second surgery at 6 months old and her third surgery at 2 /12 years old. she is on a regiment of heart medication and sees her heart doctor on a very regular basis.  Her heart is not fixed and she will need more surgeries in the future.  With all of this, Kyleigh continues to light up the room with her amazing smile, helps her mom out and loves school.  Congenital Heart defects affect every 1 in 100 babies that are born.  What is that happened to someone in your family.  Please do your part and Jump Rope for Heart to help raise awareness along with the American Heart Association.  



 Here is Kyleigh, and she started the event off for her class. 



Kyleigh and her jumping group.